Signal-controlling device.



J. BERG.

SIGNAL CONTROLLING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 1, I915.

Patented Oct 17, 1916.

11vent0r:

JOHN BERG, OF NEW YORK, N.

SIGNAL-CONTROLLING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Oct 1'? 1916 Application filedApril 1, 1915. Serial No. 18,520.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, J OHN Brno, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at New York, in the county of Bronx andState of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSignal-Controlling Devices, of which the following is a specification,reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

My invention relates to alarm systems, and contemplates a controllingdevice therefor which will be subject to tl e action of rain, fire andthe like, so that an alarm will be sounded in any of such contingencies.

One of the principal objects of my invention is to provide a controllingdevice particularly susceptible to the action of rain,

so that it may serve as a rain annunciator,

my general idea being to provide a device that may be placed outside ofan open window of a dwelling house at night to sound an alarmimmediately upon its beginning to rain, and thus to arouse or notify theoccupant promptly so that the window may be elosed'before' any damage isdone to the interior furnishings or decorations. It will be understood,however, that the above mentioned use is only one of anumber to which myinvention may be put, as it may be advantageously employed in many otherconnections. such, for instance, as burglar or fire alarm systems.

A further object of my invention is to provide a controlling device ofthe character stated which will be simple in construc tion, compact inform, and efficient in operation, and which may be manufacturedinexpensively and sold as an article of commerce at small cost.

The manner in which the above and other objects are carried into effectwill appear in the more detailed description to follow and finally bepointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawin I have shown the preferred embodiment of myinvention and it will be obvious that many changes and alterations maybe made therein and in its mode of application which will be stillcomprised within the spirit of the invention. Generally speaking,Idesire it to be understood that I do not limit myself to any specificform or embodiment except in so far as such limitations are specified inthe claims.

Referring to the drawing, Figure 1 is a perspective-view showing myimproved device in operation and connected to an electrically operatedalarm; Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the device in side elevation; andFig. 3 is a detail-view. 7

Referring to the drawings, my improved device consists of a U-shapedpiece of wire 1 which is carried by a transverse supporting bar 2,formed at one end with a hole or aperture 2 through which the lower arml of the wire passes, and formed at its opposite end with an elongatedslot or opening 2 through which the upper arm l of the wire passes, andin which said arm is movable freely in relation to the supporting bar.The supporting bar 2 is also provided at its opposite ends with contactscrews 3 and 3*, the former being connected by a conductor 3 to one poleof an electric battery or generator 3 which has its other pole connectedby a conductor 3 to the other contact screw 3*, it being noted that analarm bell or signal 3 is included in the electrical connections. It ispointed out that the screw 3 is located slightly above the upper arm lof the spring wire so as normally to stand out of contact therewith,while the lower screw 3" remains in permanent connection with the lowerarm 1, and serves not only to keep the wire in the electrical circuit,but also to hold or clamp it in fixed position in the supporting bar 2.The construction thus described is very advantageous as it enables theparts to be manufactured at little cost and permits their quick and easyassemblage or disassemblage, it being noted that the spring wire may heslid in or out of place or to different positions with reference to thesupporting bar by simply unloosening the lower screw 3*. It will beunderstood, of course, that the holding function of the screw 3 might beperformed by some other embodiment than that particularly shown. Thetendency of the arm 1 due to the spring-like character of the wire 1, isto move outwardly away, from the companion arm 1'" so as to make contactwith the binding post 3 and thus to close the electric circuit. Thistendency, however, is resisted and controlled by a strip 5, which passesaround the outer ends of the two arms and holds them in proper spacedrelation. The strip 5 is so constituted that under. any of theconditions above mentioned it will yield or tear apart to allow theupper arm 1 to make contact with the binding post 3. Preferably, thestrip 5 is made of tissue paper or plain perforated paper, as these havebeen found in practice to answer the requirements to a very satisfactorydegree.

The operation of the parts will now be clear: WVhen used as a rainannunciator, the device is placed outside of an open window, as shown inFig. 1, so that it will be exposed to the action of the rain. Just assoon as a few drops of rain strike the paper strip 5, its tensilestrength will be diminished and the upper arm 1, due to its springpressure, will tear the strip apart and make contact with the bindingpost 3, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2, thus closing the electriccircuit and efiecting the ringing of the bell 3. It will be understood,of course, that the supporting bar 2 should be of nonconducting materialso that when the arm 1 is out of contact with the binding post 3, theelectric circuit may remain open.

In the form above described it will be noted that the outward movementof the arm 1 is relied upon to control an elec trically operated alarm,but it will be obvious that the movement of the arm could be made tocontrol a mechanically operated alarm in the same way. Also, it will beobvious that instead of having a complete equipment for each controllingdevice as shown, a single equipment may be employed for any numberthereof, such as is used in all fire alarm systems throughout buildings,apartment houses, etc. These applications and adaptations of my improveddevice will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the artwithout departure from the scope of the invention.

Havingthus described my invention, its construction and mode ofoperation, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States is, as follows 1. A signal controlling device, consistingof a single piece of spring wire bent into substantially U-shaped form,a transverse supporting bar therefor formed at one end with a hole oraperture wherein one arm of the wire is fixedly located and at its opposite end with an elongated slot wherein the other arm of the wire ismovably located, said supporting bar being also provided at its oppositeends with electrical contacts, one of which is in permanent connectionwith the fixed arm of the spring wire, and

a member connecting the free ends of the arms and holding the movablearm out of engagement with the other contact, in the manner and for thepurpose described.

2. A signal controlling device, consisting of a single piece of springwire bent into substantially U-shaped form, a transverse supporting bartherefor formed at one end with a hole or aperture wherein one arm ofthe wire is fixedly located and at its opposite end with an elongatedslot wherein the other arm of the wire is movably located, saidsupporting bar being also provided at its opposite ends with electricalcontacts, one of which is in the form of a screw or holding memberconnected permanently to the fixed arm and serving to hold or bind it inposition in the supporting bar, and a member connecting the free ends ofthe arms and serving to hold the movable arm out of engagement with theother electrical contact, in the manner and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof, I have aflixed my signature.

JOHN BERG.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. G.

